After accidentally acquiring a stray puppy from a kidnapped litter of Tibetan temple dogs, Harry Dresden accepts a job from his White Court acquaintance, Thomas Raith, to investigate a series of deaths on a pornography film set led by director Arturo Genosa.

However, a surprise Black Court attack forces a truce between them and they flee to the Raith's Chicago mansion for safety.

Soon after, Dresden finds a pattern to the curses and prepares a counterattack, but one of Genosa's ex-wives prevents him from saving the next target and frames him for the woman's death.

Before the next curse can be unleashed against him, Dresden calls upon Murphy to help him stop Lord Raith and maneuvers Lara to save them all from her father.

Despite almost getting blown up and burned to death, the crew successfully battle Mavra, destroy the nest, and rescue the children that had been taken as hostages.

Dresden and Thomas, after meeting for dinner, rescue a litter of pups from a group of demon gorillas, and deliver them to Brother Wang, their owner, just as he is leaving.

When the next curse hits the studio, Dresden is able to intervene and save the lives of two of the stars, but they are badly hurt and electrically scarred.

Thomas arrives just in time to hustle Inari away and explains that Dresden is still protected by Susan's love.

The next morning, Dresden meets Kincaid and Lt. Murphy to coordinate the raid on Mavra before hurrying back to the studio to prevent the next curse.

Back at his apartment, Bob gives Dresden the location and a site map of the vampire hideout in a homeless shelter.

Although they almost erupt into violence, they give their word to Dresden for a temporary truce until they can shut down Mavra and her scourge.

Impersonating Red Cross workers, Kincaid and Murphy evacuate the homeless people and shelter staff from the ground floor.

Dresden's shield keeps the flamethrower from physically reaching them, but it fails to stop the intense heat from passing through, and incinerates his left hand.

Dresden coopts Lara to overthrow her father, and finds Madge and Trixie with Raith and Thomas in the Deeps.

She makes her father into a puppet, so their enemies won't see any weakness in House Raith or the White Court.

Dresden decides to keep the puppy, naming it Mouse, and learns from Bob that his previous touching of a Denarian coin has given him access to powerful Hellfire magic.